- Collection:
- Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program
- Title:
- Oral history interview with James Mackay, 1999 January 15
- Creator:
- Mackay, James A. (James Armstrong), 1919-2004
- Contributor to Resource:
- Steely, Mel
University of West Georgia. Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program - Publisher:
- Carrollton, Ga. : University of West Georgia Special Collections in association with the Digital Library of Georgia
- Date of Original:
- 1999-01-15
- Subject:
- Georgia--Politics and government--1865-1950
Georgia--Politics and government--1951-
Legislators--Georgia--Interviews
Emory University--Alumni and alumnae
United States. Navy
Tennessee Valley Authority
Athens (Ala.)
Segregation--Georgia--History
Flags--United States--States
World War, 1939-1945
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
Callaway Gardens (Pine Mountain, Ga.) - People:
- Mackay, James A. (James Armstrong), 1919-2004--Interviews
Mackay, James A. (James Armstrong), 1919-2004
Arnall, Ellis Gibbs, 1907-1992
Bell, John Simons
Carter, Jimmy, 1924-
Gosnell, Cullen Bryant
Egan, Mike, 1926-
Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969
Flynt, John James, 1914-2007
Griffin, Marvin, 1907-1982
Harvey, Mose L.
Johnson, Leroy, 1928-
Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973
Landrum, Philip M.
Mattingly, Mack, 1931-
McGovern, George S. (George Stanley), 1922-2012
Miller, Zell, 1932-2018
Moore, Arthur J. (Arthur James), 1888-1974
Murphy, Thomas Bailey, 1924-2007
Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994
Russell, Richard B. (Richard Brevard), 1897-1971
Sanders, Carl, 1925-2014
Swaggart, Jimmy
Talmadge, Herman E. (Herman Eugene), 1913-2002
Vandiver, S. Ernest (Samuel Ernest), 1918-2005
Weltner, Charles Longstreet - Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- oral histories (literary works)
moving images - Type:
- MovingImage
- Format:
- video/mp4
- Description:
- James Mackay (1919-2004) was born in Fairfield, Alabama, the son of a Methodist minister. During World War II he served on a Coast Guard destroyer escort in the Mediterranean, where he earned the bronze star. After his service, Mackay returned home to earn a law degree from Emory University in 1947. He was a liberal Democrat in a mostly conservative state, representing DeKalb County in the state legislature from 1951-1952, and from 1955-1964. Mackay was elected from the 4th Congressional District to serve in the United States Congress in 1964. He was one of two Southerners to vote in favor of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and was not re-elected to a second term. Among his accomplishments were founding the Georgia Conservancy in 1967, acting as a mentor to future Senator Max Cleland, and serving as an attorney for Martin Luther King, Jr. Mackay spent much of his later years working on environmental issues and died in Lookout Mountain, Tennessee in 2004 at the age of 85.; Interviewed by Mel Steely on January 15, 1999 at Mackay's home.; The interview begins with Mackay discussing his family and upbringing. His mother was born in China, the daughter of missionaries, and he was born in Fairfield, Alabama. Mackay talks about the various places he lived growing up, as his father was a pastor who moved around to different churches. He talks about his years in college leading right up to World War II, citing his friends and most influential teachers. Mackay then answers questions about his military service and being stationed in Florida when the war broke out. After a year of enlistment, Mackay came back to finish law school and entered politics, aiding Mack Mattingly. He discusses his elections, his committee appointments, and alliances he made in Washington. Major issues discussed include the Vietnam War, segregation, and the changing of the Georgia flag. The interview concludes with Mackay citing some of his favorite book passages in relation to his political and spiritual philosophies.
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:uwg_phc_mackay19990115
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/uwg/phc/do:mackay19990115
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [interview title], Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program oral history interviews. Annie Belle Weaver Special Collections, Irvine Sullivan Ingram Library, University of West Georgia
- Extent:
- 4 interviews (circa 121 mins., circa 62 mins., circa 62 mins., circa 20 mins.)
- Original Collection:
- Georgia Political Papers and Oral History Program oral history interviews. Annie Belle Weaver Special Collections, Irvine Sullivan Ingram Library, State University of West Georgia
- Contributing Institution:
- University of West Georgia. Special Collections
- Rights:
-
Oral history interview with James Mackay, 1999 January 15
